Innovate. Collaborate. Be recognized.
The student bridge contest allows students to design, build, and test a miniature structural bridge using various composite materials in accordance with a set of well defined rules. This is an international competition involving schools from around the globe. Students compete for monetary prizes and for the coveted SAMPE Student Bridge Champion trophy.
The 2023 Bridge Contest will be held April 19, 2023 at the SAMPE 2023 Conference & Exhibition in Seattle, WA. Contest rules are available here.
Objective
Design and build a composites bridge using an assortment of pultrusions, cores, fabrics and other materials supplied in kit form.
Benefits of Participation
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Put your composites training into action
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Represent your college or university
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Add your participation and potential win on your resume
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AnalySwift is offering student teams free access to their software. More information is provided to registered teams.
Requirements
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This contest is open to students only
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At least one team member must be a SAMPE member
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Only one bridge entry is permitted per registration
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Follow all SAMPE 2023 Student Bridge Contest Rules
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Students must print and bring their own posters
Key Dates and Deadlines
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Contest – Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at the SAMPE 2023 Conference & Exhibition in Seattle, WA
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Registration w/o Kit – Opens December 1, 2022
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Design Proposal Submission Deadline – April 10, 2023
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Video Poster Submission Deadline –April 10, 2023
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Last Day to Register – April 12, 2023
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Check-In for Contest – Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at SAMPE 2023 Seattle
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Awards announced at Student Social Reception (must RSVP) - April 19, 2023
Material Kits
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Boron will be provided to the first 10 registrants who select category C, deadline March 1, 2023. Thank you to Specialty Materials for their donation
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Material Kits will not be provided this year
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Specialty Materials will provide cured 2-ply boron composite unidirectional laminates for the first ten students to request them (two pieces, each 4” wide X 25” long). The specific properties for the composite (B4/5505), offering high compressive strength, more information can be found on the Specialty Materials website
Sponsor or Donate
Give back to the student engineering community with a material or monetary donations. Donor participation is essential to the success of this event. A complete list of acceptable materials and sponsorship levels are detailed in the sponsor letter.
If your company would like to sponsor or donate, please contact Katia Tyra at katia@sampe.org.
SAMPE 2022 Overall Bridge Contest Winners
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First Place - University of Washington
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Second Place - McGill University
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Third Place - University of Tennessee, Knoxville
2022 Winners for Categories A-H
Category | 1ST PLACE | 2ND PLACE | 3RD PLACE |
|---|---|---|---|
A | University of Washington | University of Washington | Montana Technological University |
B | The University of Tokyo | McGill University | University of Washington |
D | University of Washington | University of Washington | UCLA |
E | University of Tennessee | University of Washington | |
F | Montana Technological University | UCLA | University of Tennessee Knoxville |
G | University of Southern California | UCLA | University of Washington |
H | University of Southern California | McGill University | Tarleton State University |
SAMPE 2022 Bridge Poster Winners
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First Place - University of Tennessee, Knoxville
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Second Place - McGill University
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Third Place Tie - McGill University, University of Maryland, and University of Maryland (Three way tie)
Thank you to our SAMPE Student Bridge Contest Sponsors!
Contest Sponsors
